U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Southern Colorado Regulatory Office
200 South Santa Fe Avenue
Pueblo, Colorado 81003-4270
(719) 543-6914
4/14/08
Web Page: https://www.nwo.usace.army.mil/html/od-tl/coloreg-home.htm
CHECKLIST OF INFORMATION REQUIRED TO COMPLETE APPLICATION FOR A
NATIONWIDE GENERAL PERMIT VERIFICATION
The following information will assist the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in reviewing your application
for a Department of the Army Nationwide General Permit verification. Not all of the information is
necessary or applicable to each project. Please provide the information appropriate to your proposed
project. Supplying this information when you file your application could significantly reduce the
processing time.
Location: Kerber Creek Restoration Site: Latitude 40.15N, Longitude 42.33E near Villa
Grove, Colorado. The USGS hydrologic unit code is 1301000302. See
Figures 1 and 2.
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Description of Proposed Project:
The Kerber Creek watershed restoration plan is for key areas impacted by historic mine tailings
in the Kerber Creek Watershed. Kerber Creek is on the State of Colorado’s Section 303(d) list
for heavy metals left there nearly a century ago. The segment of the waterway that this proposal
covers is listed for dissolved cadmium, copper, and zinc and is classified as Aquatic Life Cold 1,
Recreation E, Water Supply, Agriculture /Use Protected. Kerber Creek is in the Rio Grande
Basin and is listed as a top priority for funding. Colorado Department of Public Health and
Environment (CDPHE) have recently completed a draft Total Maximum Daily Load Assessment
(TMDL). The water quality goal for the 303(d) listed segments of Kerber Creek is attainment of
the assigned use classifications for Segments 9a and 9b, specifically the assigned Water Supply
Use classification for Segment 9a and the Aquatic Life Use classification for Segment 9b
(segment where restoration project will occur). The endpoint of the TMDL would be an
assessment that the assigned water quality standards for metals are being attained. Though some
mine reclamation has already occurred in the watershed (described in Section 2.5), much still
needs to be accomplished in order to meet the use classification goal and improve the Kerber
Creek fishery.
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CDPHE has collected and analyzed surface water samples since 1990 in this watershed. Results
indicate zinc (120ug/l) and copper (13ug/l) have exceeded EPA Ambient Water Quality Criteria
for aquatic life acute exposure (http://epa.gov/waterscience/criteria/nrwqc-2006.pdf). In June of
2007, CDPHE collected additional surface water samples and results indicate dissolved zinc
concentrations of (71-6300 ug/l), dissolved copper ( 6-540 ug/l). In 2005- 2007 BLM
characterized and analyzed surface and subsurface tailings. These tailings are impacting Kerber
Creek and its associated riparian habitat by erosion and chemical processes. Additional
information is in the Environmental Assessment for this work. Potential erosion areas will be instream, and to a minor degree, near access areas.
Lands within the watershed are managed by Bureau of Land Management (BLM), USDA Forest
Service (FS), and private citizens. Tailings deposits were discharged into Kerber Creek by pre1930s milling from several mills in the Bonanza Mining District and were transported and redeposited downstream. Some voluntary cleanup actions in the watershed have occurred. Over
$10 million in response actions were undertaken by BLM, American Smelting and Refining
Company (ASARCO, Inc.), CDPHE, and FS. Although the general tailings removal action
objectives were met in this earlier work, some tailings are still present and degraded stream
channel conditions over a distance of 17 miles. Degraded stream banks and riparian areas are
limiting access to the floodplain, hyporheic flow, and sustaining flows during low precipitation
periods or promoting protective vegetative recruitment and establishment. Conversely, high
flows can scour a stream bank, which affects the natural colonization of riparian plant species.
There is tremendous local support for this effort with the landowners located along Kerber Creek
and its tributaries have formed the Bonanza Stakeholders Group (BSG). BSG is dedicated to
providing coordination and assistance to this project and has over currently has over 20 local
land owners and 40 members. BSG and other local land owners will be contributing over
$220,000 of in-kind match to the restoration project. This project has many partners including
Trout Unlimited (TU), Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), Colorado Division of
Wildlife, Saguache Methodist AmeriCorps, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Rio Grande Division
3 Water Resources, Colorado Department of Public Health Environment, Western Hardrock
Watershed Team, AmeriCorps*VISTA, Colorado Watershed Assembly, Department of
Reclamation, Mining and Safety, Office of Surface Mining, Environmental Protection Agency
Additionally, the Collegiate Peaks Chapter of Trout Unlimited is based in Salida and has a
history of working on river restoration projects in the San Luis Valley. The chapter and other
partners will be contributing volunteer labor for restoration and re-vegetation, and financial
support. We will plan four community meetings in Villa Grove over the two-year project and
provide regular project updates to interested community members. The AmeriCorps VISTA
volunteer will help coordinate the stakeholders with guidance from Trout Unlimited Watershed
Restoration Coordinator. We also plan to celebrate and share our successes with an annual
potluck barbeque at a local landowner’s ranch. Additionally, both Trout Unlimited and the BLM
will have Kerber Creek restoration information on their websites.
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The stream name is Kerber Creek and the dimensions of the creek below the
average high water mark are; length is approximately 90,000 linear feet
(although only portions of this distance will be treated), width is approximately
10 feet, and depth is approximately 2 feet.
Wetlands – not applicable in project area (n/a)
Work location: T46N R08E Sections 7, 8, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26,
27, 28, 24; T46N R07E Section 1, 12; T46N R09E Section 15, 16, 17, 19, 20,
21 ; and T47N R07E Sections 35 and 36.
The purpose and need of the project is to remove mine tailings along Kerber
Creek, stabilize the channel, restore and preserve the riparian system, and
re-establish fisheries. The project would consist of removing tailings adjacent
to Kerber Creek, stabilizing stream banks using rock and native vegetation, Jhook vanes with supporting bank rip rap to deflect flow away from stream
banks, and re-establish riparian habitat. Figure 3 depicts an example of a
boulder project. If the project does not occur, than mine tailings will continue
to leach into Kerber Creek, bank erosion will continue, riparian and fisheries
habitat will not be re-established. Rosgen structures will be utilized to
increase fish habitat and Figures 3 and 4 are examples of the in-stream
structures to be placed in Kerber Creek.
Active restoration will necessitate use of a track hoe and dump truck to
remove mine tailings, re-shape stream banks, placement of rip rap and inchannel structures in Kerber Creek. The Best Management Practices (BMPs)
associated with this work are included in the NPDES Storm Water
Management Plan and BLM/USFS Environmental Assessment. Revegetation of the upland and riparian zones will be done using volunteers
from the community and weed free seed and native vegetation. Construction
activities will occur beginning the summer of 2008 and end September 2010.
Erosion will be minimized by conducting work during dry periods, using silt
fences during construction activities, establishing vegetation, and a person
on-site to monitor work.
The quantity of fill or excavation is approximately 40,000 cubic yards of
material over the life of the project, which will include removal of mine tailings,
re-shaping stream banks, and placement of rock.
The location of disposal sites will be above the 100-year floodplain and on
suitable flat sites near where the excavation of tailings will occur to minimize
disturbance.
A programmatic biological assessment and biological evaluation was
completed for both FS and BLM listed species. It determined that the selected
actions will have No Effect on Uncompahgre Fritillary Butterfly, and May
Effect, But Not Likely to Adversely Affect Bald eagle, Canada Lynx, Mexican
Spotted owl, and Southwestern Willow Flycatcher. A wildlife Biological
Evaluation determined that the selected alternative would have No Impact on
the majority of the Forest’s sensitive species and May Impact individuals of
some species but are not likely to cause a trend towards Federal listing or a
loss in viability.
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No direct or indirect adverse environmental impacts are likely. During the
two-year project, it is expected that minor quantities of sediment are likely to
be discharged into Kerber Creek, but are mitigated by the BMP’s described in
the Storm Water Management Plan and Environmental Assessment. It is
also expected that the sediment discharges from lack of current remedial
responses will be lessened when the BMP’s are implemented. Following
completion of the project, erosion and delivery of metals (through mine
tailings) will be reduced, while water quality, riparian and fisheries habitat will
be greatly improved.
Specific objectives and tasks to be completed through an approved Section 319
grant from EPA and Water Quality Control Division are described below:
Objective 1: Develop watershed plan
Task 1: Assemble all relevant information into formal watershed plan
Task 2: Share watershed plan with BSG for feedback and input
Task 3: Submit final plan to CDPHE
Objective 2: Relocate high metal concentration tailings from streamside
Task 1: Characterize tailings chemistry, contaminant, and mobility
Task 2: Select relocation sites and obtain covenant agreements with landowners
Task 3: Conduct removal activities
Task 4: Restore compacted soils at all temporary haul roads
Objective 3: Initiate phytostablilization at lower metal concentration tailings
Task 1: Prepare sedimentation and erosion barriers
Task 2: Reconstruct berms/old beaver terraces to 3:1 slope
Task 3: Mix "A" horizon soils and add amendments as prescribed in the BLM
Environmental Assessment.
Objective 4: Re-vegetate phytostabilization sites
Task 1: Re-vegetate tailings sites with native vegetation
Task 2: Drill or broadcast seed on soil
Task 3: Plant trees where appropriate
Objective 5: Stabilize stream banks at up to 140 sites
Task 1: Install root wads where prescribed
Task 2: Install willow fascines where prescribed
Task 3: Install engineered rock weirs
Task 4: Plant sedge mats, willow, and cottonwood where prescribed
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Objective 6: Install fish habitat structures
Task 1: Place boulder clusters where prescribed
Objective 7: Install stream bank monitoring stations
Task 1: Install cross and longitudinal section transects for documenting stream channel
morphology changes
Objective 8: Monitor riparian and upland projects
Task 1: Task 1: Establish and monitor long term transects/points for quantifiable
changes in soil chemistry and site stability
Task 2: Establish photo points to monitor vegetation changes
Task 3: Conduct macroinvertebrate surveys
Task 4: Conduct fish shocking/surveys
Task 3: Propose amendments for inadequate or failed treatment sites as appropriate
Objective 9: Celebrate and share successes
Task 1: Hold 4 community meetings to report progress and successes
Task 2: Share project information at appropriate conferences/meeting
Task 3: Hold yearly celebration potluck with BSG
Objective 10: Adhere to all 319 reporting requirements
Applicant Information
† Contact's name, if corporation or agency, include contact name: Steve Sanchez or
Andrew Archuleta.
† The applicant is the responsible party: Yes
† Mailing Address
Bureau of Land management
P.O. Box 67 [46525 Highway 114]
Saguache, CO 81149
† Telephone Number during business hours: (719) 655-2547
† Fax number and e-mail address: (719) 655-2502. steve_sanchez@co.blm.gov
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Figure 3. Specifications for J-hook vane structures (From: The Cross-Vane, W-Weir and J-Hook Vane
Structures…Their Description, Design and Application for Stream Stabilization and River Restoration, D.
L. Rosgen, P.H.)
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Figure 4. Specification for cross vane structures (From: The Cross-Vane, W-Weir and J-Hook Vane
Structures…Their Description, Design and Application for Stream Stabilization and River Restoration, D.
L. Rosgen, P.H.)
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Please call if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Andrew Archuleta
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